Why Las Vegas Locals
Love South Point Casino
🥩 💰 🍸 🎰
Las Vegas has no shortage of spectacular resorts, celebrity restaurants and over-the-top attractions. We love those too. But one of the pleasures of living here is having places that offer a completely different kind of Las Vegas experience.
Located at the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, South Point is especially convenient for us coming up from Henderson. There’s plenty of free parking, and the atmosphere is relaxed, casual and come-as-you-are. There isn’t an elaborate theme and there isn’t much pretense. It’s simply a comfortable place to spend an afternoon or evening.
And after living here for years, we’ve developed quite a few South Point favorites.
10 Julia Child Birthday
Tributes, Stories & Recipes
Celebrating Julia Child’s birthday has become an annual tradition here on Taste With The Eyes. Every August, I find another reason to return to Julia—to cook one of her recipes, revisit a story from her remarkable life, or simply celebrate the joy and curiosity she brought to the kitchen. After so many years of birthday tributes, it seemed like the perfect time to gather some of my favorites together in one place.
Julia changed the way Americans thought about French cooking, but her influence went far beyond recipes and technique. She made ambitious cooking seem possible, mistakes seem perfectly acceptable, and the kitchen a place for learning, laughter, and a good appetite. Her enthusiasm for food was irresistible, and decades later she remains just as much fun to cook with. Here are ten Julia Child birthday tributes from over the years—recipes, stories, memorable meals, and a few adventures inspired by the incomparable Julia Child.
Click the link in each title to visit the original post, where you’ll find the complete story, recipe, photographs, and all the delicious details.
Poached Halibut Cheeks
Julia Child’s Beurre Blanc
Ikura & Chives
And
Julia Child Floribunda Roses
Celebrating Julia Child’s birthday has become a cherished tradition here on Taste With The Eyes. Each August, I return to her recipes, her stories, and her extraordinary influence on American cooking—and this year is no exception.
For Julia’s birthday, I’m serving tender poached halibut cheeks with her classic beurre blanc, finished with jewel-like salmon roe and fresh chives. Simple, elegant, and very much in the spirit of Julia: start with wonderful ingredients and treat them well. And as she famously said, “With enough butter, anything is good.”
ANNUAL JULIA CHILD BIRTHDAY TRIBUTES
2025
Julia Child’s Escargots à la Bourguignonne at a Parisian Bistrot (here)
2024
A Ladies Birthday Luncheon in Paris and Julia’s Coquilles St. Jacques Recipe (here)
2023
Chicken Liver Pâté at a Birthday Luncheon with Jacques Pépin (here)
When Gymkhana—one of London’s most celebrated Indian restaurants—opened its first Las Vegas location, it quickly became one of the city’s most anticipated dining destinations. While a reservation is certainly on my list, I was equally excited to discover that several of the restaurant’s signature simmer sauces are available to order online.
For this dinner party, I built the menu around three of those sauces: Green Tikka, Butter Masala, and Goan Coconut Curry. Each one delivers the depth and complexity of Gymkhana’s distinctive flavors, making it easy to create an elegant Indian-inspired meal at home while adding a few personal touches.
Prawn Coconut Curry & Curry-Pickled Onions
GYMKHANA NIGHT MENU
NAAN
Garlic Yogurt Green Chutney
CHILEAN SEA BASS
Butter Masala
Warm Cream Swirl, Cilantro, Jalapeño
ROASTED HARIYALI CORN
Green Tikka Marinade, Deggi Mirch, Chopped Cilantro
Naan & Garlic Yogurt Green Chutney
The silky Butter Masala was a natural pairing for buttery Chilean sea bass, finished with a swirl of warm cream, fresh cilantro, and sliced jalapeño. Sweet prawns nestled into the fragrant Goan Coconut Curry, then were garnished with chile oil, cilantro, and edible flowers for a vibrant presentation. Roasted corn, coated in the herbaceous Green Tikka marinade, added smoky flavor and bright color to the plate.
Hariyali Corn & Saffron Basmati
To complete the meal, saffron basmati rice was finished with toasted cashews, jewel-like pomegranate arils, fresh mint, and cilantro. Curry-pickled red onions added a tangy counterpoint that balanced the richness of the curries, while warm naan and a cool garlic yogurt chutney tied everything together.
The result was an elegant dinner inspired by one of London’s iconic Indian restaurants, yet relaxed enough to enjoy at home with friends. Three exceptional sauces provided the foundation, while high-quality seafood, summer corn, plenty fresh herbs, and thoughtful garnishes made the evening uniquely my own.
An unforgettable dinner at Bazaar Meat Las Vegas by José Andrés inspired me to bring a little more of Spain into my own kitchen. After the meal, I ordered his newest cookbook, Spain My Way: Eat, Drink, and Cook Like a Spaniard, eager to explore the recipes and stories behind the cuisine that has shaped his cooking.
As I turned the pages, I came across Tomates Aliñados, a simple tomato salad served at a tiny country bar in southern Spain. It is described as a peaceful place surrounded by vegetable gardens and sugarcane fields, with just a handful of tables where guests gather for leisurely meals. The setting is humble, but the salad is a classic expression of Spanish cooking—ripe tomatoes dressed with excellent olive oil and paired with Manchego cheese and anchovies.
Today I’m sharing my recreation of this beautifully simple Spanish salad, along with a few photos from our dinner at Bazaar Meat—the memorable meal that inspired me to discover Spain My Way in the first place.
Poached Halibut Cheeks
